(5/26) Seven well-known Adams County artists will join forces with the art exhibition program company, Americas’ Arts, to mount both an exhibition at the Blue Parrot Bistro on 35 Chambersburg Street in Gettysburg, as well as, open the new Bluebrick Gallery, at 18 North Washington Street, in downtown Gettysburg, First Friday, June 5th.

The show at the Blue Parrot Bistro and the new Bluebrick Gallery will feature the diverse works of noted Adams County artists Lisa Gohr Harman, Shawn Heiges, Wendy Spicer Heiges, Sarah Schaeffer Maclay, Jill Rakowicz, Amy Thrush-Dreves and Deborah Yargar-Reed. The opening reception at the Blue Parrot will be on June 5th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Simultaneously, less than half a block west of the Blue Parrot, the same seven artists will be opening their new Bluebrick Gallery, with the opening reception taking place from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Americas’ Arts, which focuses on developing art exhibition programs, has included the work of several of the women in previous years efforst. Each of the seven artists, most of whom are Adams County art educators and all of whom are friends, have each shown their work extensively in regional shows and juried exhibitions. However, it was not until the collaborative effort at the Blue Parrot with Americas’ Arts, as well as, the opening of the new Bluebrick Gallery, that their wide range of artistic disciplines, from painting and photography to pottery, jewelry and metal work, could all be enjoyed and available in the same space.

"Last November, I met with Lisa Harman and Sarah Maclay," Americas’ Arts owner Larry Knutson explains. "I was familiar with their work, as well as that of one of their colleagues. When I learned that they were planning on opening a new gallery, we all agreed that a collaborative effort between Americas’ Arts and the Bluebrick Gallery would be very enjoyable for both artists and the Adams County region."

Pulling together a group of women artists and friends to run a gallery was Lisa Gohr-Harman’s idea. "I’ve always had a dream of opening a gallery in this space," says Harman, who owns the building housing the gallery. "I started talking about it with a few artist friends, and most of them were interested in showing their work here too. We’ve all got very different styles and approaches, so it’ll be a really eclectic, really exciting mix. We’re looking forward to showing together and adding another element to the Gettysburg art scene."

Harman, who teaches art in the Upper Adams school district, will show some of her paintings, which are characterized by their bold, vibrant colors and somewhat abstract natural motifs. She will be joined by fellow painter and art educator Sarah Schaeffer Maclay, a popular Adams County artist known for her landscapes. Potter Shawn Heiges, who teaches art at Biglerville Elementary School, will exhibit works created from Raku clay. Her work is often inspired by the patterns and textures found in nature. Wendy Spicer Heiges, who coordinates the Adams County Arts Council’s Imagination Station art-education center, will exhibit her popular jewelry designs. Littlestown art educator Jill Rakowicz will show two-dimensional works in addition to her jewelry, which features crocheted silver-wire and hand-made glass beads. Gettysburg High School art teacher Amy Thrush-Dreves will show her award-winning metalwork and jewelry. Upper Adams physical education teacher Deborah Yargar-Reed will show her photographic work, which focuses on outdoor images.

For more information about both the exhibition at the Blue Parrot Bistro, as well as, the opening of the Blue Brick Gallery and the exhibiting artists, please call Americas’ Arts at 717.486.4455 or email info@americasarts.com